The East Gwillimbury Public Library (EGPL), in collaboration with the Town of East Gwillimbury, is holding the second annual Newcomer Welcoming Week Community Celebration! This free family-friendly event is open to everyone and will include fun and informative activities such as a gardening workshop, a dance class, face painting, info booths, and more! The event supports welcoming and inclusion by celebrating diversity, sharing culture, and bringing the community together. Join us to learn more about Town and Regional services, engage in cultural activities, and contribute to EG being a welcoming place for newcomers!

Event Details

  • Date: Saturday, September 12, 2026
  • Time: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
  • Location: 160 Jim Mortson Drive, Health and Active Living Plaza (HALP)
  • Parking: Free parking is available at the HALP.
  • Cost: The event is free; some activities require registration. Click the links below to register. 

Free Event Activities

Activity Details Location
within the
HALP		Registered or Drop-In

Opening Remarks and Smudging Ceremony 

10 to 10:15 a.m. 

Join us for opening remarks and a smudging ceremony led by an Indigenous Knowledge Carrier.

 Outdoor Pavillion Drop-In

Indigenous Drum Teachings: The Heartbeat of the Nation

10:15 to 11 a.m. 

This interactive workshop introduces participants to the cultural significance of the Indigenous drum, often referred to as the heartbeat of Mother Earth. Through storytelling, teaching, and live demonstration, participants will learn about the sacred role the drum plays in Indigenous cultures as a tool for connection, ceremony, and community. Facilitated by Jared Big Canoe, the session explores the teachings surrounding the drum, including its origins, cultural protocols, and the responsibilities carried by those who sit at the drum. Students will gain insight into how songs carry language, history, and spiritual meaning within Indigenous traditions.

 Reading Garden (Weather permitting)

Register here

Welcoming Week Info Fair 

10 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

Attend the info fair and gain valuable information about East Gwillimbury, York Region, and EGPL services.

 Indoor Boardwalk Drop-In

Face Painting and Balloon Twisting

10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. 

In celebration of Newcomer Welcoming Week, stop by to get your face painted and receive a balloon sculpture!

 TBC Drop-In

Gardening Workshop

10:30 a.m. to Noon 

It's harvest time, and we can't wait to see what's come up this fall. Join us for some hands-on seed gathering and food harvesting of vegetables, herbs and native plants from the demonstration garden. Presented by a member of South Lake Simcoe Master Gardeners and the East Gwillimbury Gardeners.

 Learning Pod and Outdoor Demonstration Garden Register here

Lunch

Noon to 2 p.m. 

Everyone who registers for a Newcomer Welcoming Week event activity will receive a voucher for a complimentary meal and beverage!

 Indoor Boardwalk Voucher provided to all event activity registrants.

Intro to Salsa Dance Class

12:45 to 1:45 p.m.

Learn some salsa basics in this fun and active dance class!  Salsa is a dynamic, vibrant dance with deep Afro-Latin roots. No prior dance experience is necessary. All are welcome to register.

 Public and Social Services Pod  

Register here

Cooking and Story Time Workshop with Author Nadia Hohn

1 to 2 p.m.

What if Talking about Racism was as Easy as Baking a Cake, Cooking Rice, or Frying Plantain?  This presentation introduces the idea that our stories matter.  This workshop will introduce audiences to authors and stories featured in the book The Antiracist Kitchen.  Their experiences, new vocabulary, and tools to fight racism.  The goal is to create a safe environment for courageous conversations and mutual understanding, while helping attendees to feel empowered with tools to fight racism.  Attendees will prepare banana fritters, puff puff, and fried plantains during the presentation. All children under 12 years of age must be accompanied by a caregiver at least 16 years old.

 Health Services Pod (Kitchen)  Register here

Indigenous Beading Workshop

1 to 3 p.m.

Join Indigenous artist Siera Han to learn how to bead your own pouch. Materials will be provided. No prior beading experience is necessary. All are welcome to register.

 Learning Pod Register here

Intro to Bachata Dance Class

2 to 3 p.m. 

Learn some bachata basics in this fun and active dance class! Bachata is a captivating social dance from the Dominican Republic, blending influences of bolero and merengue. No prior dance experience is necessary. All are welcome to register.

 Public and Social Services Pod Register here

 This event was made possible through the York Region Community Investment Fund.

Learn more about Welcoming Week.